2025 Employment and Labor Law Seminar

Name: 2025 Employment and Labor Law Seminar | DRI
Start: 2025-05-07T12:00
End: 2025-05-09T12:25
Location: Renaissance Nashville Hotel

May 7–9, 2025
Renaissance Nashville | Nashville, Tennessee

Experience the Best in Employment Law at DRI’s 48^th Annual Seminar in Nashville!

Save up to $700 when you register on or before March 24, 2025!
View registration information.

Get ready to experience the vibrant energy of Music City at DRI’s 48^th annual Employment and Labor Law Seminar! This premier event is the ultimate gathering for top-tier management-side employment and labor attorneys, in-house counsel, human resources professionals, and employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) representatives from across the US and Canada. Immerse yourself in intensely practical sessions, complete with invaluable written materials, designed to benefit both seasoned practitioners and those new to the field. Don’t miss out on our dynamic networking events, perfectly situated near Nashville’s iconic Broadway Historic District. This is your chance to connect, learn, and grow with the best in the business. Join us for an unforgettable seminar that promises to elevate your expertise and expand your professional network!

What You Will Learn:

The latest case law developments in employment and labor law.
Best practices for counseling clients seeking to comply with paid and unpaid leave laws, provide reasonable accommodations for neurodiverse workers and pregnant employees, and mitigate the risks associated with whistleblowers and retaliation claims.
How to build your trial skills toolkit as you watch veteran practitioners argue persuasively and navigate thorny evidentiary issues in a live demonstration of best practices for defending a sexual harassment case.
The best ways to successfully navigate difficult client discussions about diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).
An increased understanding of mental health issues and substance abuse in the legal profession.
The latest advice for complying with the patchwork of federal and state laws governing restrictive covenants and strategies for protecting client information in the wake of loosened restrictions.
Advantageous strategies to make the most of a mediation session and avoid meeting at an inflated midpoint.

Expand Your Network By:

Meeting and networking with members of the Employment Law Committee, including our active Young Lawyers.
Attending dine-arounds with newly met colleagues and friends from all over the US and Canada.
Getting involved with the Committee behind the scenes, such as by attending the business meeting and joining our steering committee.
Getting paired with veteran members through our Ambassador Program and immediately feeling like part of the Committee (For first-time attendees).

Counsel Meetings with Major Companies
Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with key industry companies* including:

Cincinnati Insurance
Stryker

*Subject to change

To save this page as a PDF, click on the "Print Brochure" button and under printer destination select "Save as PDF" or "Print to PDF."
For Android users, some browsers do not support printing.

Print Brochure

Share this page:

Thank You to DRI's Employment and Labor Law Committee Leadership

**Brian H. Leinhauser**
Program Vice Chair

Helen Holden — **Helen R. Holden**
Committee Chair

Eric Kinder — **Eric E. Kinder**
Committee Vice Chair

Join the Employment and Labor Law Committee

Registration Information

Save up to $700 when you register on or before March 24, 2025!
Worry-free registration: Cancellations received thirty (30) days or more before an in-person seminar are entitled to a full refund.

Save Your Spot Today

	Member Pricing	Non-Member Pricing	Non-Member Bundle ^
Early Bird Registration* (Now thru Mar. 24)	$1,395	$1,795	$1,715
Regular Registration* (Mar. 25–May 6)	$1,595	$1,995	$1,915
Onsite Registration*	$1,695	$2,095	$2,015
Group Registration (Non-Sponsored)	Group registration is for registering four or more attendees. Members and non-members receive a 15% discount off the member and non-member rates respective to the time the group registration is initiated (i.e. Early Bird, Regular or On-Site registration periods). There is one free registration with every 10 paid registrations. If you want to register for the group pricing, fill out the form here. Please note that online registration is not available for this offer.
Government	Government members will receive the applicable government rate for the seminar upon login. If the government rate does not appear after logging in, please call DRI directly at (312) 795-1101 to receive the discounted rate. Invoices can be sent after purchase upon request.

Not a DRI Member? Select the Non-Member Bundle and Save!

^ Not a DRI Member and new to DRI? Take advantage of the Non-Member / Trial Membership Bundle and receive up to 9 months of membership when you register for the seminar. You’ll be able to add this special offer to your cart at check out. Note: Trial membership processing can take up to 30 days from the date of purchase, please contact DRI Customer Service with any questions. Please note renewing members and members with recently lapsed memberships are not eligible for a Non-Member Bundle.

Learn more about membership at DRI and get started on your DRI journey today!

*If your membership recently lapsed, please renew your membership prior to registering to ensure you receive your discounted member rate. If you would like to join DRI to receive the member pricing and see the benefits of becoming a member, click here to go to the Application page.

Networking Events

Premier Networking Reception at the Fogg Street Lawn Club
Sponsored by: ABC

Date: Thursday, May 8 from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Pricing: Free when you register for the seminar
Location: Fogg Street Lawn Club, 648 Fogg St, Nashville, TN 37203

Get ready for an unforgettable evening at the DRI Premier Networking Reception! After a day of learning, join us at the one-of-a-kind Fogg Street Lawn Club for a truly unique experience. Picture this: you're sipping cocktails on Nashville's first rooftop lawn bowling green, chatting with fellow attendees, and soaking in the British-inspired atmosphere. It's like bocce ball with a twist! Unwind with light bites, an open bar, and the chance to forge lasting connections. Trust me, this isn't your average networking event – it's a night you won't want to miss!

Hotel Information

The seminar will take place at Renaissance Nashville Hotel, 611 Commerce Street, Nashville, TN 37203.
To contact the hotel directly, call 615.225.8400.

A limited number of discounted hotel rooms have been made available at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. Take advantage of the group rate of Single Rate: $339.00 (plus taxes and fees) or Double Rate: $349 (plus taxes and fees).

Reserve your Room Online

The hotel block is limited, and rooms and rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must make reservations by April 7, 2025, to be eligible for the hotel's group rate. Requests for reservations made after April 7 are subject to room and rate availability.

Full Agenda

*Schedule and Speakers subject to change

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Time (Central)	Session
12:00 p.m.	Registration
2:45 p.m.	A Double Header: Best Practices for Accommodating Neurodiversity and Pregnancy Equip yourself to effectively advise clients about their duties under the ADA to accommodate complex conditions like neurodiversity and pregnancy. In the first of two informative sessions, Lovita Tandy provides a primer on neurodiversity, outlines the duty to accommodate neurodiversity under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and covers best practices for accommodating neurodiverse employees and job candidates. Then, join us for a discussion of the evolving landscape of pregnancy accommodations under the recently enacted Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and its associated regulations, along with helpful issue-spotting for compliance with state and local requirements. Lovita Tandy, Lawrence & Bundy, Atlanta, GA
3:45 p.m.	The Year in Review: Annual Discrimination and Retaliation Law Update One of the annual conference’s perennial favorites, with a new face! Ankush Dhupar highlights the key discrimination, harassment, and retaliation decisions from the past year. Bring a copy of his materials and be ready to take notes, as the material presented in this valuable session will help every defense lawyer in their briefing in the coming year. Ankush Dhupar, Paul Hastings, LLP, Los Angeles, CA
5:00 p.m.	Adjourn
5:30 p.m.	First Timers / Non-Member Meet and Greet
6:00 p.m.	Networking / Cocktail Hour
7:30 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).
9:30 p.m.	Meet the Young Lawyers – Social Hour for Attendees of All Ages

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Time (Central)	Session
8:30 a.m.	Registration & Coffee Service Get to know the early risers in our group over a cup of coffee.
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Introductions Mark A. Fahleson, Rembolt Ludtke LLP, Lincoln, NE Sandy L. Morris, Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C., Chicago, IL
9:15 a.m.	"I Am Not Okay:" Navigating the Twin Challenges of Mental Health Struggles and the Opioid Crisis Attorneys are not immune to mental health issues or opioid addiction, two struggles that are often intertwined. Indeed, statistically speaking, attorneys struggle with anxiety and depression at a higher rate than the general public. This session will discuss Dr. Stephen Loyd’s personal struggle with opioid addiction, as well as his path to recovery, which provides valuable lessons for all professionals in high-stress, demanding jobs who might be predisposed to or grappling with an addiction issue. It will also provide employment attorneys with a toolkit to deploy when presented with these issues within themselves, their firms, and their clients’ employees. Dr. Stephen Loyd, Cedar Recovery, Nashville, TN Fred J. Bissinger, Lawson Electric Co., Chattanooga, TN
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.	DRI Cares Project
10:15 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:30 a.m.	You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me: Keeping Up with Best Practices for Paid and Unpaid Leave This engaging presentation will explore how to guide employers as they manage all kinds of leaves of absence, both paid and unpaid, including leaves under the Family and Medical Leave of Absence (FMLA), leave as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), leaves under mandatory paid sick leave statutes, leaves under state paid leave programs, and more. The presenters will present both an in house and outside counsel view of leave management, including an interactive discussion of multiple scenarios. Helen R. Holden, Spencer Fane, Phoenix, AZ Blair Troy, AllianceBernstein L.P., Nashville, TN
11:30 a.m.	Glorious Laborious – The Definitive Update on The Year’s Labor Law Developments Jean Faure and Kevin Carr return with their comprehensive update of the year’s most significant National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) developments in a rapid-fire, entertaining format. Jean Elizabeth Faure, Faure Holden: Attorneys at Law, PC, Great Falls, MT Kevin L. Carr, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC, Jacksonville, FL
12:30 p.m.	DRI Networking Lunch
2:00 p.m.	Trial Strategies in Defending Sexual Harassment Claims Follow a live mock sexual harassment trial demonstrating important trial skills and learn the how's and why's of effective defense strategy through live play-by-play commentary. See the Plaintiff and Defendant’s Opening Statements, examination of witnesses, and demonstrations on the admission of evidence including business and medical records. Observe how defense counsel develops a trial theme and weaves it through the case, along with a demonstration of technical skills. Cortlin Bond, Bradley, Birmingham, AL Nicholas S. Ruble, Baker Sterchi, Kansas City, MO
3:00 p.m.	Ethical Considerations in DEI: It Takes “All Kinds of Kinds” to be Successful This session will address the state of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and address direct questions about difficulties encountered when working to help clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel understand what DEI is, what it’s not, and what the future of these initiatives may be going forward, focusing on the ethical considerations that arise. Moderator Brian H. Leinhauser, MacMain Leinhauser, West Chester, PA Stephanie Houston Mays, Maynard Nexsen PC, Birmingham, AL Amy L. Miletich, Miletich PC, Denver, CO
4:00 p.m.	Employment and Labor Law Committee Business Meeting
6:00 p.m.	Premier Networking Reception \| Fogg Street Lawn Club Click here for details on the reception.
8:00 p.m.	Dine-Arounds Join colleagues and friends at selected restaurants for dinner (on your own).

Friday, May 9, 2025

Time (Central)	Session
8:30 a.m.	Registration and Coffee Service
9:00 a.m.	Welcome and Announcements Brian H. Leinhauser, MacMain Leinhauser, West Chester, PA
9:10 a.m.	Walk the Line: Effectively Addressing Whistleblowing and Retaliation Risks in the Workplace Learn about the expansive universe of whistleblower protection laws and delve into current trends and best practices for handling employee complaints to address valid concerns and reduce the potential risks of retaliation claims.
10:10 a.m.	Coffee Break
10:25 a.m.	Mediation Tactics and Strategies: Do We Have to "Meet in the Middle?" Resolution is the goal of mediation but too often parties are pushed directly to an artificially inflated midpoint. Join this experienced panel as they offer counterstrategies against the “Meet in the Middle” approach and explore other need-to-know issues such as identifying key mediation attendees; navigating coverage issues, policy retentions and deductibles; considerations for self-insured clients; and handling difficult plaintiffs. There will be plenty of takeaways from this rousing discussion offering mediation strategies from the varied perspectives of the client, carrier, and mediator. Moderator Robert Luskin, Chartwell Law, LLP, Atlanta, GA Frank A. Bear, Green Thumb Industries, Chicago, IL David Dietz, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Cincinnati, OH Tanya Tate, Miles Mediation & Arbitration, LLC, Atlanta, GA
11:25 a.m.	Restrictive Covenants: How Can I Miss You If You Won’t Go Away? Many employers rejoiced last year when the district court struck down the FTC rule banning non-compete agreements. But the headaches from restrictive covenants aren’t going away any time soon. Learn how an employer can protect itself from unfair competition in this rapidly evolving area of the law. Scott Gibson, Denton Peterson Dunn, PLLC, Mesa, AZ Stephen D. Riden, Beck Reed Riden LLP, Boston, MA
12:25 p.m.	Adjourn

CLE Information

Earn up to TBD hours of continuing legal education hours (CLE) from this seminar.

View CLE Credit by State

In some states that charge late CLE submission fees, there will be a $100 late fee to report CLE credits submitted more than 30 days after a seminar/virtual event. Click here for details on CLE late fees.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

If you would like to contact DRI about seminar sponsorship opportunities (including pricing) or to reserve a spot, please visit the sponsorship page.

Additional Resources

If you have any questions or concerns regarding DRI programs, please contact DRI Customer Service at 312.795.1101 or custservice@dri.org.